Bring your own parts auto shop expanding

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The lousy economy has made lots of us frugal, and that's good news for businesses that occupy the discount corner of their industries. Bring Your Own Parts Birmingham, a discount auto repair shop that opened downtown in June, has already opened a second location and is now scouting locations for a third.

Valerie Sheperd, who owns the business with her husband, Willie, said they rushed to open the second shop because the original one -- across the street from the downtown post office -- wasn't equipped for big jobs such as major engine work. They hired five technicians to staff the new location, at 316 Commons Dr. near John Carroll Catholic High School, and had no trouble finding qualified mechanics.

"They're finding us, because the economy is kind of rough right now," Sheperd said.

The business will provide parts if asked, but it minimizes the cost of parts markups by asking customers to bring their own, and about 80 percent elect to do so. So far, Sheperd said, business has exceeded expectations.

"In the next eight to 10 months, we'll open a third location," she said.

This item appeared in The Insider, a weekly column in The Birmingham News.